North Korean pirates loot Japanese villages and steal washing machines, motorbikes and solar panels to sell back home

The revelations were made after the Japanese Coast Guard swooped on a stranded boat near an uninhabited islet off Hokkaido They are investigating potential links to a capsized boat found in neighbouring Akita.

By Jon Lockett

5th December 2017, 11:22 am

Updated: 5th December 2017, 3:39 pm

DESPERATE North Korean fisherman are turning pirate to plunder isolated island homes to get their hands on goods they can't get afford in the rogue state.

The revelations were made when the Japanese Coast Guard swooped on a stranded boat near an uninhabited islet off Hokkaido.